A One Mann’s Movies review of “The Boys in the Boat” (2024).
“The Boys in the Boat” is going to be a tricky one for me to objectively do a Film Review for. Because, I’m actually in it! (Story below).
It was originally reported way back in 2011 that this would be “Kenneth Branagh’s next film” (after Thor) but the project never developed. It moved from The Weinstein Company to MGM and fell under the directorship of superstar George Clooney. Clooney of course is no slouch as a director, having directed eight feature films in the past.
This one is like a soggy “Chariots of Fire” and – despite my best efforts to contaminate it – it is really rather enjoyable.
Bob the Movie Man Rating:
Plot Summary:
Joe Rantz (Callum Turner) is penniless and living in an old car in the slums of Seattle. But he is trying to better himself by putting himself through an engineering course at the University of Washington. Desperate for tuition fees he hears that getting picked for the Washington rowing team not only comes with a paid job but also offers a room with an actual bed in it. He is desperate to prove himself as one of the top eight from the hoards of keen applicants who apply.
Certification:
UK: 12A; US: PG-13. (From the BBFC web site: “Moderate bad language”). (This is really a pretty family-friendly film… for parental guidance the BBFC reports the language extending to ‘shit’, ‘ass’, ‘assholes’, ‘nuts’, ‘screw’, ‘Jesus’, ‘Christ’, ‘God’, ‘damn’ and ‘hell’. That’s the sort of level.)
Talent:
Starring: Callum Turner, Joel Edgerton, Peter Guinness, Sam Strike, Thomas Elms, Jack Mulhern, Luke Slattery, Bruce Herbelin-Earle, Will Coban, Tom Varey, Hadley Robinson, Courtney Henggeler, Bob Mann!
Directed by: George Clooney.
Written by: Mark L. Smith. (Based on the book by Daniel James Brown).
Twitter Handle: #TheBoysInTheBoat.
Running Time: 2h 3m.
Rantz (Callum Turner) and Joyce (Hadley Robinson) share a tender moment at the station. (Source: Amazon MGM Studios)
“The Boys in the Boat” Review:
Positives:
- It really does have “Chariots of Fire” vibes about this one, from the colour pallette to the nice 1930’s production design to the great costumes by Jenny Eagan (who I met on set!)). The story is gentle and rolls along at a leisurely pace. Older folks in particular will, I think, warm to this one a lot.
- Joel Edgerton, Callum Turner and Peter Guinness (in particular) turn in solid performances and the budding romance between the spiky Rantz (Turner) and the pin-up Joyce (Hadley Robinson) is cute to watch.
- Although the results tend to be as predictable as hell, there is a thrill to the way in which the boat races have been filmed especially the gripping final race. There’s a good article on the Olympic race including film of the actual Gold medal race here.
- Alexandre Desplat’s music is excellent and uplifting.
Negatives:
- There is a LOT of rowing in this film, and some of these scenes I found to be a bit repetitive.
- For a “Drama” there is really very little that is dramatic in the story. About the most shocking thing to happen is a bout of illness. This is gentle storytelling of the “Downton Abbey” variety… so I didn’t but some may find that a bit of a snoozefest.
- Some of the lines of dialogue in the film I’m afraid made me cringe. A case in point: Joel Edgerton’s Ulbrickson sitting on the porch staring glumly across the river saying “I’m not sure I like the view anymore” before his a scantily-clad wife (Courtney Henggeler) drops her nightie out the door and says words to the effect of “Well come and see a view that you will like”. Sorry, but “Ugh”.
The original Boys in the Boat. (MOHAI Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 2000.107.224.18.03)
My role in the film
Early in 2022 I did my usual application to an agency for Supporting Artist work on an upcoming film called “The Boys in the Boat”. I often apply for such work and seldom get the call. But this time I did and in late April 2022 I found myself in a quarry north of Swindon in a constructed city set as one amongst many supporting artists. But I was extra lucky… they needed a guy to do the featured role of a ‘Photo Shop owner’ who is donating to the rowing team’s fund-raising. The role required wearing a white shirt, jacket and bow-tie and I fitted the measurements! So next thing I know, I am rehearsing the scene with George Clooney himself! (What a nice guy he is… really down-to-earth and amiable). I had to give Clooney a dollar bill… he is overjoyed at the genorosity and pumps my hand before running off down the street going “Woo-hoo!”. I filmed the scene with Tom Varey, doing maybe 4 takes.
The effort that goes into making a film like this is unbelievable. The scene maybe lasts all of 4 seconds on the screen but it took a whole morning to film. And my ‘photo shop’ was a production design miracle, full of 1930’s style cameras and accessories, virtually none of which you ever see in the shot! I guess the production design team build the sets just in case they *might* be needed for filming.
If you want to spot me, there’s a scene (about 90 minutes in) where the team are short of funds and the coach (Joel Edgerton) approaches a journalist sitting in an armchair in a hotel lounge. My scene is immediately after that, in a little ‘fund raising’ montage. As above, I’m wearing the white jacket.
Clooney on set: the great man at work. Certainly an experience I won’t forget. (Source: Laurie Sparham/MGM Pictures)
Summary Thoughts on “The Boys in the Boat”
Like I said, maybe I’m a bit biased but this one was gently delightful. I think it will appeal to an older audience of the “They Don’t Make Films Like That Anymore”. Because they do, and this is it. It is certainly a different animal to “Poor Things”, which I saw last night and is less suitable for ‘general older viewing’!
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Trailer for “The Boys in the Boat”:
The trailer is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfEA-udzjjQ .
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Many congrats Bob. Now I’ve something to tell the guys in the pub- “ I worked with a guy who’s worked with George Clooney” 😀😀
Hahaha – 15 seconds of fame! Thanks Ian… hope you;re doing well.
I really enjoyed it Bob! Got caught up in the drama and missed you unfortunately 🙁
Haha – blink and you did indeed miss me!